Military expenditure in Vietnam
Vietnam: Military expenditure was 5.50 billion current USD in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Vietnam, 1987–2018
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Vietnam is 5.50 billion current USD, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.4% on the previous year and up 157.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Vietnam peaked at 5.50 billion current USD in 2018 and was at its lowest, 297.72 million current USD, in 1993.
That places Vietnam 45th out of 168 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Vietnam, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1.32 billion current USD | — |
| 1988 | 1.31 billion current USD | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 458.56 million current USD | -64.9% |
| 1990 | 511.97 million current USD | +11.6% |
| 1991 | 427.62 million current USD | -16.5% |
| 1992 | 332.97 million current USD | -22.1% |
| 1993 | 297.72 million current USD | -10.6% |
| 1994 | 431.35 million current USD | +44.9% |
| 2003 | 841.93 million current USD | +95.2% |
| 2004 | 915.09 million current USD | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 1.03 billion current USD | +12.2% |
| 2006 | 1.29 billion current USD | +25.3% |
| 2007 | 1.78 billion current USD | +38.7% |
| 2008 | 2.14 billion current USD | +19.8% |
| 2009 | 2.40 billion current USD | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 2.67 billion current USD | +11.3% |
| 2011 | 2.69 billion current USD | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 3.36 billion current USD | +25.1% |
| 2013 | 3.73 billion current USD | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 4.26 billion current USD | +14.2% |
| 2015 | 4.56 billion current USD | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 5.02 billion current USD | +10.0% |
| 2017 | 5.07 billion current USD | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 5.50 billion current USD | +8.4% |
Vietnam compared with similar countries
- Vietnam's 5.50 billion current USD is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.38 billion current USD, 4.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Vietnam's 5.50 billion current USD is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.66 billion current USD, 1.2× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.03 billion current USD | 458.56 million current USD | 1.32 billion current USD | 3 |
| 1990s | 400.32 million current USD | 297.72 million current USD | 511.97 million current USD | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.48 billion current USD | 841.93 million current USD | 2.40 billion current USD | 7 |
| 2010s | 4.10 billion current USD | 2.67 billion current USD | 5.50 billion current USD | 9 |
Countries ranked near Vietnam
More public sector data for Vietnam
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Vietnam?
- Military expenditure in Vietnam was 5.50 billion current USD in 2018, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Vietnam?
- The highest recorded value was 5.50 billion current USD in 2018.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Vietnam?
- The lowest recorded value was 297.72 million current USD in 1993.
- How does Vietnam rank for military expenditure?
- Vietnam ranks 45th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Vietnam?
- Over the last ten years it is up 157.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vietnam data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)